55th Gold Cup & Saucer attracts fastest field ever

Tuesday, August 5 2014: The 2014 edition of the Sobey's Gold Cup and Saucer is full of speed. It will feature the fastest field ever assembled.

Of the 12 horses entered into the two trials, eight have lifetime marks under 1:50. Those 12 horses have earning in excess of $ 5 million.

Trial 1, goes Saturday night at Red Shores' Charlottetown and the trainer-driver combination of Ron Burke and Marc Campbell are back to defend their title. This time with the fastest and richest horse in the field Aracache Hanover. The winner of over $ 1.7 million in lifetime earnings boasts a lifetime mark of 1:48.1. The son of Dragon Again best known for his wicked gate speed has drawn post 5.

To his immediate right is the only entrant from last year's final Up The Credit, he will leave from post 6. The other $ 1 million plus winner in the field is trained by Carl Jamieson. He has a lifetime mark of 1:48.3 taken last year at Woodbine. Up The Credit was the 2011 winner of the North American Cup.

Trainer Rene Allard will have two entries in Saturday night's first trial. From post 3 will be a first time starter from his stable Big Town Hero, The six-year-old gelding enters the Allard stable after winning in a lifetime best 1:48.3 in his last start. Island Jett is his other entry in Trial 1, The four-year-old son has drawn post 4. Allard picked this horse up two starts ago and shows two consecutive miles in 1:53.3 on half-mile tracks.

Astor is the only entrant in this year's trials from the Maritime free-for-all circuit. Owned by Foxyhall Racing of Wallace, NS, Jason Hughes will handle the training and driving duties from the coveted rail position. He scored his lifetime best clocking last year at Mohawk in 1:49.4.

Trainer Chris Oakes will make his first trek to Red Soil for trial 1 with Shock It To Em from Post 2. The son of Western Terror has won three of his last six starts including a 1:49.2 score at Pocono. He has just over $ 200,000 in his bankroll and a lifetime mark of 1:49 taken earlier this season.

Oakes will send his second entrant in this year's Gold Cup and Saucer out in trial 2. The fastest of the six horses in Monday nights trial, Scott Rocks has drawn the outside post 6. He took his lifetime mark just three starts ago at Pocono in 1:48.3.

Corey Johnson is looking to follow in his father Colin's footsteps and win his first ever Gold Cup and Saucer. His first ever entry in the Gold Cup will leave from post 5. Wazzup Wazzup is coming into trial 2 fresh off of a lifetime best score of 1:49 in his last outing at Mohawk.

A pair of brother's will look to make boyhood dreams come true. Trainer Patrick Shepherd will give his Brother Robert the drive on Duke Did It from post 2. The Truro Raceway co-track record holder has won his last four starts in 1:54.4 or better. He was purchased by Ivan Petersheim after winning the Exhibition Cup in Truro.

Take It Back Terry from post 1 is the second horse from this years Burke Brigade. The post 1 starter picked up a 1:51.2 victory in his second last start over Yonkers (half-mile). He enters the trial with just over $ 380, 000 in career earnings and a record of 1:50.

The third entry from the Allard stable, Mickey Hanover, will contest his trial for Post 4 with Islander Anthony Macdonald scheduled to do the driving. He has won three of his last four races.

Mach Wheel rounds out trial 2, the Post 3 starter was a winner Monday afternoon at Grand River in 1:54.2. He is owned and trained by Shane Arsenault.

Trial 1

1. Astor Jason Hughes

2.Shock It To Em TBA

3.Bigtown Hero Gilles Barrieau

4.Island Jett TBA

5.Aracache Hanover Marc Campbell

6.Up The CreditCarl Jamieson

Trial 2

1.Take It Back Terry Gilles Barrieau

2.Duke Did It Robert Shepherd

3.Mach Wheel TBA

4.Mickey Hanover Anthony Macdonald

5.Wazzup Wazzup James MacDonald

6.Scott Rocks TBA

A video of the 53rd running of the Gold Cup and Saucer Race, one of North America's premiere harness racing events. The Gold Cup and Saucer Race is held annually in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island at the historic Charlottetown Driving Park and is the culmination of the annual Old Home Week celebrations. The 53rd running of the Gold Cup and Saucer Race took place on August 18, 2012.